Parselmight Chapter 8

She turned the corner, entering the private study area within the Slytherin dorms. It contained a small library, none of the books she had ever found useful, with rows of empty tables for her housemates to use, alone with normal furniture.

Emma looked around the room, searching for her target, and frowning when they were nowhere in sight. She turned and left, heading into the maze of tunnels that was the Slytherin dungeon, and found herself in the vicinity of one of the most hated wizards in Slytherin.

‘Looks like Malfoy’s bitch is out here all alone.’ The ugly, unshielded thought hit her mind. His brain tasted like metallic blood on vomit, a sick sensation. ‘Maybe I should teach her a lesson, let Selwyn and the rest of her lackeys know what’s coming.’

“Zabini, fancy seeing you around these parts unattended.” He smiled at her, a twisted smile that made her sick. This was the type of man her mother would pursue, only to kill on their marriage night.

She sighed theatrically, resting a hand on her hip and twirling a bit of her hair. “Montague, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

‘What I would give to shove my cock down those fucking lips.’ The thought was revolting. “I have a message, for you to give your master.”

“Careful, Montague.” She glared back.

He grinned, but it was intimidating more than anything. ‘On second thought, better to not stick my cock in crazy. She’s probably just as bad as her mother.’ “You might have the rest of them fooled, but not me. I know how you cozy up to Selwyn, Abbott, and the rest of them. Tell Ms. Malfoy if she steps out of line she’ll regret it.”

Montague sneered and bumped past her, strolling down the hall. She glared back at him, reading some more of his thoughts before turning and moving on. She had better things to do than to read Montague’s mind.

She reached the common room, and finally found her target.

The more Dark part of the House was holding court, or trying to do an intimidation show on the rest of them. Malfoy and his goons sat in a way that would allow them to harass anyone leaving the common room, meaning anyone in Selwyn’s group had to bypass them to get to class.

It would make things harder for her, but she did what she set out to do anyways. Her targets sat on either side of Malfoy, his usual pair of bodyguards Crabbe and Goyle.

The first thought about food, and then about all the candy he could steal next time he visited Hogsmeade.

The other thought about his cat, and about all of the galleons he had stolen from second years earlier in the day after breakfast.

It took her longer than she wanted to implement the specific thought she wanted to in their minds from this distance, but she was able to do so after a while.

Emma Zabini had completed her task, the one that was essential to the plan. She made her way back to her shared dorm, and entered.

It didn’t take an occulmens to sense something was wrong when she entered her dorm. She had been able to read Kassanda’s mind before, albeit a few years ago, until her best friend had mastered occulmency to a sufficient degree.

“Tell me Emma, we are friends, are we not?” Kassandra asked after a few minutes of silence. It was a suffocating question, voiced without emotion.

“Of course we are.” Emma agreed.

“Friends to the point that you wouldn’t betray me like the other girls we share a common room with, correct?”

Emma froze, and realized she had made a huge miscalculation. She had been so caught up in her own schemes and plans the past couple months, that she didn’t think about how it would look from the outside. Notably, from the view of her best friend, Kassandra Malfoy.

She wetted her lips. “I apologize for not telling you more about Potter and Greengrass.”

“Oh, well I guess I can forgive you for that.” Kassandra said kindly.

She stilled. “You… you will?”

Kassandra snorted in scorn. “Greengrass is the most ambitious bitch around, not that it’s anything new. I just never figured you’d bow down to her whims like you did.”

Emma bit back a harsh retort, biting her lip hard and trying not to sneer. Talk about a cauldron calling the kettle black. Kassandra could be a bitch, even more so than Greengrass at times. She took a breath. “You’ve known me for a long time, Kassandra, do you really expect me to surrender to Greengrass after all this time.”

“And so you expect me to believe you are not following Greengrass?”

“I do.”

Kassandra stared at her for a while, before turning away and making to cross the room. Emma sighed, and looked down as she relaxed. This was a mistake.

Faster than she registered, she found herself grabbed by her hair and slammed up against the vanity mirror. Her wand left it’s place in her sleeve, flying carelessly across the room. She gritted her teeth in frustration, and stared into Kassandra’s chilling blue eyes in the mirror.

Her best friend had taken advantage of her letting down her guard, and ambushed her. Her long hair was held in a tight grip, arms and legs awkwardly beneath her form, as the female Malfoy stood over her.

Kassandra spoke harshly, next words came out a whispered threat. “I believe you, I have known you long enough to know you wouldn’t join Greengrass. And yet you really expect me to believe you would support that Selwyn whore?”

Emma shuddered involuntarily. Kassandra’s question and tone of voice would have sent the strongest wizards wetting their pants and running for the hills in terror. Her voice was so cold, to the point that Emma could believe she sounded like a feminine version of the Dark Lord in that moment.

Her best friend was cold, not as much as Greengrass, and preferred the introverted and calculating approached to life. But she had a hidden cruelty that lurked behind her facade, something that Emma would almost blame on the maddness ever so present in the Black family.

But when it was revealed, Kassandra could be more ruthless than any vampire during a blood moon. Her capacity for mercy would be gone, containing enough dark emotions that she could power any dark curse or spell. It was the kind of strength that Bellatrix Lestrange was known for, and by extent the last Dark Lord.

But there was a silver lining to it in Emma’s mind. Kassandra never showed her anger, with or without her occulmency she was able to contain her emotions when necessary. That said, instead of burning hot her anger rather chose to burn cold. It could last months, even years, where Kassandra waited until the exact moment to get her revenge.

It was why Emma had avoided Malfoy and his thugs for so long, knowing that Kassandra would one day crush them. They had all severely slighted her in one way or another, on their own terms or through Draco. The damn brat had always had a bone to pick with his “perfect” sister, something Emma had no intention of getting wrapped up in.

“I’m not supporting either of them.” Emma grit out, speaking awkwardly with her face flat against the mirror.

“So you’re doing this all on your own?” Kassandra asked in a mocking tone. “You’ve got me all wrapped up in this shit now, Emma, and even fucking Potter’s involved. If Draco gets even a whiff that I’m involved in all this, he’ll go straight to father. Do you know what happens to me then?”

“He won’t find out. I’ve ensured it.” Emma grit out.

Kassandra glared at her. “How?”

Emma took a breath. “Greengrass and I made a deal. I’ve arranged for your brother and his thugs to attack them today. As a result, your brother will lose his position, and Selwyn will step in and take over.”

“You- Greengrass- what?” Kassandra stared at her in shock, her grip loosening enough for Emma to get comfortable. “What is the deal you made with Greengrass? What could she possibly give you in exchange for such a thing?”

“It’s our personal buisiness.” Emma stated.

“Fine.” Kassandra glared, understanding Emma wouldn’t say any more on the subject.

The girl’s eyes suddenly widened, her grip loosening enough that Emma could get free if she tried. She needed a distraction, and sent a harsh legilimency probe into Kassandra’s mind.

“So you guys actually made an agreement?”

Kassandra spun to face her, an accusation in her words. “You knew about this?”

Emma shrugged, “I knew they were seeing each other, not that they had actually reached a betrothal.”

“Congratulations!” One of the Carrow twins beamed, while the other looked on happily at the pair. Greengrass gave a nod before giving Potter a kiss.

“Er, right, congratulations on your betrothal.” Kassandra said awkwardly.

The Malfoy heiress swore and Emma made her move, pushing them both away from her mirror. Kassandra fell back, looking livid. “I know what agreement you made with Greengrass, there’s only one thing you could want from her.”

“And what could that be?”

“Potter.” Kassandra smirked at her expression. “You’ve been cozying up to him, and Greengrass probably agreed to make you one of his wives, or whore, like your mother.”

Emma bit her cheek, tasting blood in contempt. “You’re a bitch, you know that right?”

“I do.” Kassandra smirked. “Although now that I know exactly what’s going on, I’m going to need your help.”

“And why would I help you?” Emma glared.

“Because if you help me, I’ll forget all this even happened. And I’ll even make you my second in command when I rule Slytherin.”

-

They had chosen an abandoned classroom on the fourth floor that had a good view of the mountains surrounding Hogwarts for their small announcement ceremony.

It was an informal get-together in Harry’s mind, a small meeting that would be over quickly. Of course, it so happened that his future wife had other ideas, and had turned the event into a formal affair.

“I love seeing you in formal robes.” Daphne smiled at him, looking him over with her eyes.

Daphne was dressed like the pureblood princess she was, wearing everything short of a wedding dress in Harry’s opinion. Her dress wasn’t promiscuous like the ones she had worn before, being a more formal type that wouldn’t intimidate other girls and cause wizards to lust after her.

She still looked attractive, wearing a black dress that went up to her neck and flared over her shoulders as well as covered her legs. Her hair was done perfectly, as was normal, and let loose in curls over her choulders.

Despite wanting the event to be a small affair, it seemed that half the school in Harry’s mind had shown up. He was exaggerating, but still more faces than he could count accurately had shown up, many of them being younger and from other houses.

“Just don’t make me wear them too often.” Harry joked back. “You know I’m not one for these types of occasions. That’s why I have you.”

“Oh hush.” Daphne replied with a teasing smile, pretending to scold him. It was no secret his betrothed enjoyed being the socialite.

“Oh, you two look so good together!” Lavender nearly squealed from nearby.

“Thank you… Brown.” Daphne replied nicely, or at least nicer than she usually was then dealing with Gryffindors.

“Congratulations!” A pair of first-years called out from next to her, them too also being part of the Potter appreciation club.

Of course the Potter appreciation club had shown up, seemingly happy to attend the event. He didn’t even know they were a thing, somehow missing that a club existed that was entirely dedicated to him.

Not as many Gryffindors as he imagined had shown up, with only the Weasley twins, Ginny, some of her roommates, along with Lavender and Parvati being the notable ones. A bunch of Hufflepuffs had come to, notably Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott who were somewhat friendly with Daphne.

There was also the first year Hufflepuff named Lucy who was thrilled to be there, being the one who had first congratulated him on his betrothal. The brown-haired girl was very kind in Harry’s mind, to the point he somewhat wished he could have been sorted into Hufflepuff.

Beside Lucy though, he made new friends at the event. Michael Corner and Anthony Goldstein from Ravenclaw seemed like wizards with common sense, along with Sue Li and Lisa Turpin. There was also a firstie from Gryffindor named Emily who he had befriended, and promised to help her out if she needed any.

There was also the big elephant in the room, being Daphne… and her being a Slytherin. The girl had invited what seemed to be half of Slytherin House in Harry’s mind.

Clearly the others in the room were somewhat apprehensive of making friends and talking with the Snakes, but it was actually the Slytherins who reached out. Harry could swear he never saw Slytherins act so friendly, something that had clearly surprised everyone else present.

Raleigh Abbott and Eileen Selwyn had practically thrown themselves into the crowd, making more connections than Harry thought possible. Even Flora and Hestia had made an effort, a suprise to him as he rarely had ever heard them speak a word between each other over the years.

Everything was going perfectly, and Harry could tell from the shine in Daphne’s eyes that her plan was working. The “good” Slytherins were making themselves known, befriending Harry Potter and making connections outside of their House.

That was when everything went to hell.

One of the walls to their room suddenly ceased to be, exploding violently as it blew inwards towards the gathering.

Harry found himself nearly thrown to the floor and covered in rock, only to be saved by Daphne acting quickly. She had whisked her wand out just in time, and put up a large shield that covered most of the room’s occupants.

The explosion ended and the stones settled, a dusty cloud overtaking most of the room where the wall had once been. Harry could see the silhouette of their attackers through the cloud, staring in at them through the smoke.

“Look what we have here, a bunch of blood-traitors and mudbloods all in one place.” Said an annoying whiny voice, right as a spell dispelled the dust cloud.

Harry looked out past the blown-out wall, into the hallway beyond where their attackers stood. Draco Malfoy had arrived to crash the party it seemed, and had brought the bad half of Slytherin with him.

-

It was a dark and dingy manor that Cyrus Greengrass arrived at, the gates and hedges around the property overgrown, the manor iteself built from decaying and rotten wood on the outside. It spoke to how old the property was, belonging to one of the most ancient families to exist in Britain.

A worn looking House-elf greeted him and led him inside, the manor itself looking almost as forsaken and abandoned on the inside than on the outside. He didn’t let it bother him, knowing just which family he was dealing with.

This could all be a facade in his mind, a show to intimidate potentional foes. No ancient House would let their Manor fall into the decay that the Carrows allowed, especially one that was rumored to have enough Gold in their vault to pay off countless bribes over the Imperius defense.

To the Light faction, the Carrows were a family rotten to the core. A terrible history of betrayals and backstabbing that seemed to be a trend in their line. To the Dark, the Carrows were a family that few would try to understand, and fewer would attempt to make buisiness with.

He was making a gamble today, one that he knew could end badly if it didn’t work out. But he was here because of his daughter, and because of what he promised Potter.

He entered a study, a worn looking room made up of black furniture and decrepit portraits. A short old woman sat behind a desk, her skin marred by age in a way that was unusual for magicals who typically lived a long life.

“Lord Greengrass.” Lady Carrow greeted him with a watchful eye.

“Lady Carrow.” He bowed back.

“Go on then boy, tell this old crone what you want.” The old woman croaked. “I have better things to do throughout my day then deal with the likes of you.”

He felt his eye twitch at the the disrespect. “I have a proposition for House Carrow.”

The old woman let out a laugh more akin to a crow’s cry. “A proposition, he says. I admit that very few have come to this place to give me a proposition, fewer still have walked out happy.”

‘I doubt anyone walks out of this place happy.’ He thought irritably. “My heiress has befriended your granddaughters, and I am happy to say they have grown quite close.”

“Ah, Flora and Hestia.” The old woman smiled happily. “Those two always make my day better, especially when they get up to mischief. Can’t say the same for the other pair of twins in my family.”

‘Amycus and Alecto. Either those two Death Eaters are in Azkaban or they’re under House arrest, meaning they might be here.’ He thought warily, feeling the weight of his emergency portkey in his pocket. “I take it you are on good terms with your granddaughters then? What about your heir, Alexander?”

A flash of something dark crossed Lady Carrow’s eye, something even he was wary of.

“I advise you to be more careful with your words, Cyrus Greengrass.” Lady Carrow glared.

“I admit, I find myself wanting to help you in regards to your grandson, and more specifically his attacker, Malfoy.”

Lady Carrow frowned heavily. “I cannot move against Malfoy anymore, not out in the open. And especially with those two still in my midst. The bastard has practically been breathing down my neck as of late.”

‘So Amycus and Alecto are living here, and likely working for Malfoy in some fashion.’ Cyrus felt a chill go down his spine. ‘She must mean that they hold her hostage, to keep her from moving against Malfoy anymore than she already has.’

“What if it isn’t Malfoy that you move against specifically?” He asked. “What if you help me pass a vote through the Wizengamot, tonight, while Malfoy is busy?”

The old woman snorted. “I doubt your plan will work, but I’m listening.”

“I do not directly oppose Malfoy.” He said. “Tonight, the Wizengamot will vote for Sirius Black to be cleared of all charges, as he was falsely imprisoned in Azkaban for over a decade for a crime he did not commit. I wish for your support, as your Granddaughter’s have become quite close to my Heiress, and that this will mark their future working relationship.”

“By freeing Sirius Black?” She asked with a raised brow. “I am not as uninformed as you might believe, and am aware of the betrothal between Harry Potter and your daughter. I am also aware of his relationship with Sirius Black, and what it will mean if he is truly innocent and allied with Potter accordingly.”

“So you will do it?”

“Of course not.” She waved him off. “You will need to give me more than just empty platitudes about our House’s children working together. No, if I am to oppose Malfoy like you are proposing, then I want to join your little cabal that you are forming.”

Cyrus frowned. “I’m sorry?”

“I am not blind, Greengrass.” She growled. “I know of your little schemes behind the backs of Dumbledore and Malfoy. The little club you are forming between Potter, Bones, and Zabini. And I want in.”

Cyrus glared at her for what felt like minutes, until he finally spoke. “How did you know?”

The woman smiled, a toothy smile. “Boy, haven’t you learned after all these years? Hogwarts is where everything important happens.”